Stephanie Long, mother of Amber Long who was killed in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia during a purse snatching, speaks during rally held Saturday at 5300 block of Market Street in West Philadelphia. The event was organized by the group Handbags 4 Peace. — Photograph by Nathaniel Lee Residents converged on the corner of 53rd and Market streets in West Philadelphia to protest the recent rash of pocketbook snatchings which have resulted in two fatalities, one in Northern Liberties on Jan. 29 and the other on Feb. 2 at the site of the rally.

On Sunday night, Feb. 2, police were called to the vicinity of 53rd and Market just after 2:30 a.m. in response to a shooting near the Tropical Heat bar. When officers arrived at the scene they found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene . She was identified as Melissa Thomas, 29. Her friend, a 35-year-old woman, was wounded in the arm by gunfire; her name has not been released by authorities. She was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition.Stephanie Long, mother of Amber Long who was killed in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia during a purse snatching, speaks during rally held Saturday at 5300 block of Market Street in West Philadelphia. The event was organized by the group Handbags 4 Peace. — Photograph by Nathaniel Lee Residents converged on the corner of 53rd and Market streets in West Philadelphia to protest the recent rash of pocketbook snatchings which have resulted in two fatalities, one in Northern Liberties on Jan. 29 and the other on Feb. 2 at the site of the rally.